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041Book columnist LAUREN HEWITT recently interviewed South African author Zibu Sithole about her creative process, favorite childhood books, and how she celebrates completing a novel. 

Zibu Sithole lives in Johannesburg, South Africa and has one son and a Jack Russell Dory (Dorito). She always writing whether it gets published or not is another story. She constantly grows as a writer by exploring different mediums, platforms and genres because luckily for her, her work is her play. 

Tell me a bit about your road to publication in South Africa

My road to becoming a published author was serendipitous, I have no other way to explain it. I’ve hear how tough it is to get noticed by the right people, but I have not experienced it myself. I didn’t feel ready to looking writing my own novel yet, I was and sometimes still am filled with self doubt (imposter syndrome is a real thing). 

I bowed to peer pressure and answer an open call by Pan MacMillan and then everything just seemed to melt into place.

Are any scenes in the books based on real-life events?

No, I wouldn’t say they were based on real events although I did take inspiration from  feels, stories and interactions I’ve had and witnessed. 

If your book were made into a movie, which actors would play your characters? 

My answer to that question changes so often, probably because I see so many talented South African actors every day. This week I like Rosemary Zimu as Zola, Linda Mtoba as Okuhle and Siphesihle Vezi as Mbali.

What is your favourite childhood book?

It wasn’t the most fun to read, but ‘Love, David’ by Diane Case was definitely the most impactful. Before reading that book I had never been able to recognise the South Africa I live in, in a book. The lack of representation made it seem as if our stories were not important enough to be written about which simply isn’t true. 

Tell me about your writing routine

I write every morning whether I am working on a project or not. I journal then use writing prompts to get me going if there is nothing pressing I need to work on. 

I write more when I am working on something specific and prefer to work at night and in the early morning when no one can complain about my choice of mood music. 

How do you celebrate when you finish your book? 

I celebrate most achievements by spending time with son. To do the things I need and want to do I often have to take time and attention from him so we do something fun together as a ‘thank you’ to him and of course to soothe my mom-guilt. 

How do you select the names of your characters?

The names of the characters are related to their personalities and their journeys. They also relate to the people around me or interactions I have at the time of writing. 

What inspired the idea for your book?

My book is inspired by starting over and realizing that we all still deserve a whirlwind romance at our rock bottom. 

I had to start over professionally and even moved back home after COVID-19. It was rattling and emotional and I stubbornly started working towards getting my life back immediately after I got home. Writing the story of a woman going through the same experience under very different circumstances was soothing to me and hopefully will be soothing to others. It was also a reminder that life cannot be scripted and it’s okay to change course especially if the life you scripted doesn’t actually make you as happy as you thought it would. 

If you could spend a day with another popular author, whom would you choose?

The beautiful thing about South Africa’s literary community is how accessible everyone is. I finally met Sue Nyathi in December, she will always be one of my favourite authors. I love how she weaves her stories and connects her characters.

An author I want to, but have not met yet is Ngozi Adiche. I think just being in the same room as her would make me a better feminist. 

Would you be friends with any of the characters from your book in real life?

I would try. I’m not really good at friendships which makes Okuhle an obvious choice for me. Ideally though I would be friends with Zozo, she is so much fun. I love how she thinks and how she simplifies problems so they are easier to overcome. Zola from ‘The thing with Zola’,  would probably annoy me, but Zola in ‘I Do… Don’t I’ can definitely hang. 

Do you have a message for your readers?

My message as always is that we all deserve the softest of love, the kind we see in movies and read about in novels. Everyone does, but especially women of colour who aren’t typically seen as delicate and deserving of softness and sweetness. I hope my book about everyday, relatable women with everyday relatable fears, feelings and experiences can help us all see and cast ourselves in our very own happily-ever-afters. 

Zibu’s books can be found in local book stores and online

Written by Zibu Sithole

Published by Panmacmillan.